Abdel-Dayem is the third senior official within the culture ministry to be sacked since the new culture minister Alaa Abdel-Aziz took office three weeks ago.

Her dismissal follows that of Ahmed Mujahid, head of the Egyptian General Book Authority, and Salah El-Meligy, head of the Fine Arts Sector, who was dismissed from his post on Monday, a decision that angered many visual artists.

Said Tawfiq, secretary-general of the Supreme Council for Culture[4], resigned on Wednesday and renowned Egyptian novelist Bahaa Taher resigned from the council on Thursday, both in protest at the recent firings. The minister also sent a note of dismissal of Sameh Mahran, head of the Academy of Arts, and officially accused him of defamation and harming the minister’s reputation.

However, Mahran was not fired from his post as the head of the academy can only be dismissed by presidential decree.

A protest will be held by artists, musicians and other members of the arts community on Thursday at 6pm in the grounds of the opera house in Zamalek, in protest at the recent firings.